How to Fix High GPU Usage

You’re deep into an intense firefight in Helldivers 2, the explosions are epic, the chaos is glorious—and then it happens. A sudden, jarring stutter. Your frame rate tanks, your screen freezes for a split second, and you’re staring at the “Liberty Has Been Preserved” death screen. Or perhaps you’re building your dream city in Cities: Skylines 2, and as your metropolis grows, your PC starts sounding like a jet engine preparing for takeoff. These modern, visually stunning games are pushing hardware like never before, especially on PC, where the graphics processing unit (GPU) is the heart of your visual experience.High GPU usage isn’t always a bad thing—in fact, in a perfectly optimized game, you want your GPU working hard (often at 95-100%) to deliver every single frame it can. But when that high usage leads to thermal throttling, crippling stutters, screen tearing, or sudden crashes, it becomes a problem. This issue often stems from a combination of factors: game engine bugs, outdated drivers, background processes stealing resources, or even Windows settings that aren’t playing nice with your expensive hardware. This guide is your troubleshooting toolkit, designed to help you reclaim smooth gameplay and quiet down your rig, whether you’re a competitive esports player or a single-game explorer.

Causes of the Problem

Before we jump into fixes, it helps to know what you're hunting. High, problematic GPU usage typically falls into two categories: Game-Related and System-Wide.

• Poor Game Optimization: Some games, especially at launch or in early access, simply have code that doesn’t manage GPU resources efficiently. Cities: Skylines 2 and early versions of Star Wars Jedi: Survivor are prime examples where even high-end cards struggled.
• Background Processes and Overlays: Apps like Discord, Xbox Game Bar, NVIDIA GeForce Experience Instant Replay, and even certain web browsers can inject themselves into the game, demanding GPU attention for their features.
• Outdated or Faulty Graphics Drivers: Drivers are the essential translators between your game and your GPU (be it NVIDIA, AMD, or Intel Arc). An outdated or corrupted driver can cause the GPU to work inefficiently or get stuck in a high-power state.
• Windows Settings and Power Plans: Windows, in its quest for battery life on laptops, can sometimes limit performance. Being on a "Power Saver" plan or having certain "Graphics Performance Preferences" misconfigured can hinder your GPU.
• Malware or Cryptominers: This is a worst-case scenario. Malicious software can hijack your GPU to mine cryptocurrency, causing it to run at 100% even at the desktop.
• Inadequate Cooling: If your GPU is overheating (typically above 85°C for extended periods), it will lower its clock speeds to protect itself (thermal throttling). This means it has to work harder and longer to render frames, often staying at high usage while delivering worse performance.

Quick Solution (For the Impatient)

If you need a fix right now, try this trio of steps:

Restart your PC. It’s cliché because it works, clearing out memory leaks and temporary software glitches.

Update your GPU drivers. Head to NVIDIA GeForce Experience, AMD Adrenalin Software, or Intel Arc Control and check for updates.

Lower your in-game graphics preset. Drop from "Ultra" to "High" or "Medium." Shadow quality, ambient occlusion, and ray tracing are often the biggest culprits.

Detailed Step-by-Step Solutions

Follow these steps methodically. Test your game after each major step to see if the issue is resolved.

Step 1: Establish a Baseline with Monitoring

You can’t fix what you can’t measure. Download a lightweight monitoring tool like MSI Afterburner with RivaTuner Statistics Server. Set it up to show an on-screen display (OSD) of your:

• GPU Usage (%)
• GPU Temperature (°C)
• GPU Clock Speed (MHz)
• Frame Rate (FPS)
  Launch your game and note the readings during both smooth and stuttering moments. Is your GPU at 99% and 92°C? That points to a thermal issue. Is it at 50% but stuttering? That’s likely a CPU or game engine bottleneck.

Step 2: Update Your Graphics Drivers

For NVIDIA Users:

Open GeForce Experience.

Click the Drivers tab.

Click "Check for Updates."

If an update is available, click "Download" and then "Express Installation." (Choose "Custom" and select "Perform a clean install" if you suspect driver corruption).

Restart your PC.

For AMD Users:

1. Open AMD Adrenalin Software.
2. Click on the "Check for Updates" button in the top right.
3. Follow the prompts to download and install.
4. Restart your PC.

For Intel Arc Users:

1. Open Intel Arc Control.
2. Navigate to "Drivers & Software."
3. Check for and install any updates.
4. Restart your PC.

Step 3: Tame Background Processes & Overlays

1. Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager.
2. Click the "Startup" tab. Disable any non-essential applications (chat apps, cloud storage, peripheral software you don’t use daily).
3. Before launching your game, manually close apps like Discord, Chrome, Spotify, and especially hardware monitoring tools other than your OSD.
4. Disable overlays: Turn off the in-game overlay in Discord, Xbox Game Bar (Win+G to check), Steam, and NVIDIA GeForce Experience/AMD Adrenalin.

Step 4: Optimize In-Game Settings

Don’t just slide everything to Low. Target the settings that hit the GPU hardest:

• Resolution: The biggest lever. Dropping from 4K to 1440p is a massive relief.
• Ray Tracing: This is the single most demanding modern feature. Turn it off as a test.
• Shadow Quality: Often very demanding. High to Medium is a great trade-off.
• Anti-Aliasing: MSAA and SSAA are heavy. Use TAA or FXAA instead.
• Texture Filtering: Anisotropic Filtering (16x) has minimal performance impact on modern cards; leave it high.
• View/Draw Distance: Impacts CPU and GPU. Lower it if you’re in vast open worlds.

Step 5: Configure Windows for Performance

1. Type "Choose a power plan" in the Windows search bar and open it.
2. Select "High performance" or "Ultimate performance" (if available).
3. Go to Settings > System > Display > Graphics settings.
4. Click "Browse" and find your game’s .exe file (usually in Steam\steamapps\common\[GameName]).
5. Add it, click "Options," and set it to "High performance" (your dedicated GPU).

Alternative Solutions

• Undervolting Your GPU: An advanced but highly effective technique. Using MSI Afterburner, youcan lower your GPU’s voltage at a given clock speed. This reduces heatand power consumption, which can prevent thermal throttling and lead to more stable high performance. (Caution: Research a guide specific to your GPU model).
• Clean Reinstall with DDU: If you suspect deep driver corruption, use Display Driver Uninstaller (DDU) in Windows Safe Mode to completely wipe your GPU drivers, then install the latest fresh from NVIDIA/AMD/Intel.
• Check for Malware: Run a full scan with Windows Security (Defender) or your trusted third-party antivirus to rule out malicious mining software.

How to Prevent the Issue from Happening Again

1. Maintain a Clean System: Dust your PC every 3-6 months. Clean filters and fans maintain optimal airflow and cooling.
2. Adopt a Driver Update Routine: Check for drivers monthly, or enable notifications in your GPU’s control panel.
3. Be Strategic with New Game Launches: It’s often wise to wait a few days after a major game release for thefirst optimization patches and compatible driver updates fromNVIDIA/AMD.
4. Manage Your Expectations: Know your hardware’s limits. A mid-range GPU from 2018 will strugglewith 2024’s AAA titles at Ultra settings. Use community benchmarks as aguide.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Is 100% GPU usage bad?
A: Not inherently! During gaming, 95-100% GPU usage typically means yourgame is well-optimized and your GPU is the main bottleneck (which isideal). It becomes bad only when it causes overheating (>85°C),stuttering, or crashes.

Q: My GPU usage is low, but I’m still getting stutters. Why?
A: This usually points to a CPU bottleneck or a RAM issue. Your CPU might be maxed out at 100%, unable to feed instructions to the GPU fast enough, or you might not have enough RAM, forcing the systemto use slow disk memory.

Q: Will capping my FPS reduce GPU usage?
A: Yes, absolutely. If your GPU is rendering 200 FPS uncapped, capping itto your monitor’s refresh rate (e.g., 144 FPS) or just below willsignificantly reduce workload, heat, and usage. Use in-game limiters,NVIDIA Reflex, or RivaTuner.

Q: How often should I update my GPU drivers?
A: For most users, updating with every new "Game Ready" or "Adrenalin"driver release for a game you’re currently playing is a good practice.Otherwise, a stable monthly check is sufficient. You don’t need toupdate for every single release.

Q: Can my power supply (PSU) cause high GPU usage issues?
A: Indirectly, yes. An insufficient or failing PSU can cause powerdelivery instability, leading to GPU clock speed fluctuations, crashes,and performance anomalies that monitoring software might interpret aserratic usage.

Struggling with a demanding game is frustrating, but getting everything silkysmooth is incredibly rewarding. We hope this guide helped you diagnoseand fix your high GPU usage woes. Did these stepswork for you, or are you battling a particularly stubborn game? Shareyour experience and which fix was the game-changer in the commentsbelow—your tip might be the solution for another reader! And if you’re hungry for more performance boosts, explore our otherguides on fixing CPU bottlenecks and optimizing RAM for gaming.

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